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Matthew 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

As Christians We Are To Be A Change Agent
Wherever We Are

After describing the seven characteristics of the Christian,

1. RECOGNIZING you are in spiritual poverty (Matthew 5:3)
2. REPENTING and turning to Jesus (Matthew 5:4)
3. RESTING on God to instill a controlled spirit in you (Matthew 5:5)
4. RIGHTEOUS hunger, forsaking darkness (Matthew 5:6)
5. REALIZING & trying to meet the needs of others (Matthew 5:7)
6. RELIANCE on God and His Word (Matthew 5:8)
7. REMAINING at peace with God and others (Matthew 5:9)

Jesus wanted us to know that we would be persecuted, misrepresented, and hated by those not in God’s Kingdom (Matthew 5:10-12). The darkness despises the light.

It is interesting to me anytime a well loved performer who is said to be “Christian” dies, that the world celebrates that person. Jesus was very clear that if you walk with Him, just as He was hated, you will be hated. Jesus told Nicodemus:

John 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL. 20 For EVERY ONE THAT DOETH EVIL HATETH THE LIGHT, NEITHER COMETH TO THE LIGHT, LEST HIS DEEDS SHOULD BE REPROVED. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

One famous entertainer who professed Christ as Savior said, “We’re not supposed to try to change people. We should allow people to be who they are, and love them as they are”. I believe that’s not Biblical.

The focus of the Gospel of Christ is to change people. Jesus changed from God to Man to bring us into His family. If there is no change after salvation, there is no salvation. Those who declare this is “love” are worshiping a god not of this Bible.

(Colossians 1:12-14 NKJV) giving thanks to the Father WHO HAS QUALIFIED US to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints IN THE LIGHT. [13] He has DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS and CONVEYED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE SON of His love, [14] in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

To love someone is not to endorse a lifestyle that will bring death and disease and despair. To love someone is to point them to Christ, to be a change agent. Those who are in the darkness stay in the darkness because they love the darkness. We who are Christians walk with Jesus in the LIGHT, not the darkness.

If Saved By Grave, We ARE Salt

Matthew 5:13 Ye ARE the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Jesus did not say “You SHOULD BE salt”, but “You ARE salt”. This is what God created you to be when He caused you to be born again. And like salt, what you touch should change for the better. Our lives and the way we live should have a godward influence on those around us. In the ancient world food was preserved in root cellars, or in springs of water. Food was also both seasoned and preserved by salt. Salt was precious in the ancient world. Roman soldiers were paid by salt, not by coins.

Salt is only valuable when it is pure. Salt comes from the earth, but becomes unusable and useless when mixed WITH the earth. Take salt, and mix the things of this world with it, things like sand, dirt, dust or ash. When that type of salt is added to food, it doesn’t enhance it, but degrades it.

Christians are to be Christ oriented and God glorifying. We are to be visibly different from the lost world, living for the glory of God, doing the work of God.

Christians must not compromise with the lost world. The world is morally and spiritually far from God. When salt is blended with other earth elements it becomes powerless, ineffective, and will ultimately be cast away. If you look like the world, then what good can you do for the world? You can’t.

if the salt have LOST HIS SAVOR {mōrainō}

Word Study: The three words “LOST HIS SAVOR” is just one word in the Greek, mōrainō, a very interesting word. This word means “to be foolish or act foolishly”. We get our word “moron” from this. The Apostle used this word when describing those who reject the Gospel, and embrace godlessness. He wrote:

(Romans 1:21-27 KJV) … when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they BECAME FOOLS {mōrainō}, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to DISHONOR THEIR OWN BODIES BETWEEN THEMSELVES: [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. [26] For this cause GOD GAVE THEM UP UNTO VILE AFFECTIONS: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: [27] And likewise also THE MEN, LEAVING THE NATURAL USE OF THE WOMAN, burned in their lust one toward another; MEN WITH MEN WORKING THAT WHICH IS UNSEEMLY, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

The word mōrainō means to act the fool, to act like a moron. Though David was a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), at one point DavidPROUDLY ordered the numbering of Israel. What he was doing was not glorifying God, but glorifying himself. David repented, saying:

(2 Samuel 24:10 BES) And the HEART OF DAVID SMOTE HIM after he had numbered the people; and David said to the Lord, I have sinned grievously, O Lord, [in] what I have now done: remove, I pray thee, the iniquity of thy servant, for I have been EXCEEDINGLY FOOLISH {mōrainō}.

David’s salt lost his savor. He became like a lost person. David repented, but God wanted David – and US – to know how horrible it is when the salt loses its savor. God “sent a pestilence on Israel from morning till noon” (2 Samuel 24:15).

The Bible says that because David’s salt lost his savor, SEVENTY THOUSAND MEN lost their lives. When we become like the world, it can have catastrophic consequences. When a Christian endorses unsaltiness, it hurts thousands!

When the King, seen by many people, steps away from God, MANY follow his bad example. When an Entertainer or Movie Star steps away from God, MANY justify the darkness – and are condemned because of it! Think about it.

What led to the Great Noahic Flood? The great Flood of Noah was a judgment of God on the earth because the salt had lost its savor. Leadership stepped away from God. Believers backed away from following the Lord. Before God destroyed civilization with water, the Bible says:

(Genesis 6:5-8 ESV) The LORD saw that the WICKEDNESS OF MAN WAS GREAT in the earth, and that every intention of the THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART WAS ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY. [6] And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. [7] So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” [8] BUT NOAH FOUND FAVOR IN THE EYES OF THE LORD.

Praise God that Noah kept his saltiness. He loved the Lord, and lived for the smile of God, not the grin of man.

There is a constant temptation within us to want to be liked, want to be loved. This may be what led Adam to eat the forbidden fruit when his wife offered it to him. But we must retain our courage. The Apostle Paul, attacked from all directions, wrote:

(Galatians 1:9-10 ESV) As we have said before, so now I say again: If ANYONE IS PREACHING TO YOU A GOSPEL CONTRARY TO THE ONE YOU RECEIVED, LET HIM BE ACCURSED. [10] For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? IF I WERE STILL TRYING TO PLEASE MAN, I WOULD NOT BE A SERVANT OF CHRIST.

Oh, how easy it is to compromise. But we are not supposed to be people pleasers, but Christ pleasers. The Gospel is not what we own, but what owns us. It is a stewardship given to us. Salty Apostle Paul reminds us all:

(1 Thessalonians 2:4 ESV) but just as we have been approved by God TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH THE GOSPEL, SO WE SPEAK, NOT TO PLEASE MAN, BUT TO PLEASE GOD who tests our hearts.

Salt that has become moronic or godless will not be used by God. God will toss it out, and humanity will stomp on it.

it is thenceforth good for nothing, but TO BE CAST OUT, and to be TRODDEN UNDER FOOT OF MEN

Who casts bad salt out? God does. He makes us salt. He gave us the Gospel as a stewardship. When a Christian or a Church loses its saltiness and will not repent, Christ casts it out, or sets it aside. That person and that group lose all meaningful influence on the world they are in. They are non-entities. They serve no purpose. The world no longer has any respect for that Church. The message of that Church is ignored. And people count that body of believers as if they are a dirt road – something to walk on till something better comes along.

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus addresses seven Churches through their Pastors. Jesus told the Church at Laodicea:

(Revelation 3:15-17 ESV) I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! [16] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I WILL SPIT YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH. [17] For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

The Church was more focused on glorifying themselves and their riches than they were in lifting up the name of Christ. They lost their saltiness. Jesus said, “I’m going to spit you out”. But before Jesus did, He told them:

(Revelation 3:19-20 ESV) THOSE WHOM I LOVE, I REPROVE AND DISCIPLINE, so BE ZEALOUS AND REPENT. [20] Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.

The Christian IS Light, Not Darkness

Just as Christians ARE salt, we ARE light. We don’t grow into being light.

Matthew 5:14-15 Ye ARE the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

I was asked the question, “Should an employer hire someone who lives a lifestyle inconsistent with the Kingdom of God?” My answer is – IF the person is qualified to do the job, YES you should hire them as long as they understand their job is not pushing their lifestyle on others. In other words, while on duty, DO YOUR JOB. If they can’t, I wouldn’t hire them. But even if you hire that person (and I think you should) you should stand by the Biblical standard of marriage and family. I believe that Christians should use every legally and morally and Biblically acceptable way to reach the lost. We are to be light in the midst of darkness.

Those in darkness cannot be reached unless we reach them with Christ’s glorious Gospel. Jesus must change them, but we must shine.

When Jesus walked the earth, He came up to a Roman Tax Collection Booth one day and told the Tax Collector Matthew:

(Matthew 9:9 ESV) He said to him, “Follow Me.” And {Matthew} rose and followed {Jesus}.

The Bible tells us that “Jesus is the Light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5). So what was the next thing Jesus did? The Bible says that Jesus:

(Matthew 9:10 ESV) And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, MANY TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS CAME AND WERE RECLINING WITH JESUS and his disciples.

Jesus went to Matthew’s home – and Matthew threw a party for all his friends. In the midst of this party, Jesus reclined alongside of the hated “TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS”. The Pharisees were enraged!

(Matthew 9:11-13 NKJV) … when the Pharisees saw [it], they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [12] When Jesus heard [that], He said to them, “THOSE WHO ARE WELL HAVE NO NEED OF A PHYSICIAN, BUT THOSE WHO ARE SICK. [13] “But go and learn what [this] means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I DID NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS, TO REPENTANCE.”

Jesus did not justify the lifestyle of the lost. But He loved them, and called them “to repentance”. The Evangelist Mark records the same event:

(Mark 2:16-17 NKJV) And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How [is it] that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” [17] When Jesus heard [it], He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call [the] righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A CITY THAT IS SAT ON A HILL THAT CANNOT BE HID.

We are the City of God. Those who are Christians are not to hide their faith or transformed lives. A “CITY SAT ON A HILL” can be seen from a distance. We should be distinctly different from the lost world around us. God calls us to loving service and obedience to God.

Do Not Hide Your Light Under A Bushel (Modios)

Matthew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and PUT IT UNDER A BUSHEL {modios} but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Word Study: The “BUSHEL”, the Greek modios, is “a large basket”. There are a lot of large baskets we can hide our faith behind. Jesus will talk about some of these baskets throughout His sermon:

The Basket Of Sin and Self Righteousness (verses 17-20). Some claim to come to Christ so they can freely and without guilt sin (Antinomianism). Others glorify themselves as righteous apart from Christ’s power (Pharisaism). Both are baskets that hide the light of the believer.

The Basket Of Anger and Unforgiveness (verses 21-24).

The Basket Of I’m Always Right – Even When I’m Wrong (verses 25-26).

The Basket Of Lust (verses 27-30).

We don’t have time to touch on all these areas tonight. But from this point on in Jesus’ sermon, He talks about baskets that need to be avoided, things that can cover your light. Let’s talk about one of the most used basket among religious people today:

The Basket Of Sin And Self Righteousness

Matthew 5:17-20 Think not that I am come to destroy THE LAW, OR THE PROPHETS: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, ONE JOT or ONE TITTLE shall in no wise pass from THE LAW, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall BREAK ONE OF THESE LEAST COMMANDMENTS, and shall teach men so, he SHALL BE CALLED THE LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

When the Jews referred to “The Law and the Prophets”, they were speaking of the Bible that they had – what we call the Old Testament. When Jesus referred to “The Law and the Prophets”, He was referring to the Old Testament. Here’s a few examples:

(Matthew 7:12 KJV) Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for THIS IS THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.

(Matthew 22:40 KJV) On these two commandments hang all THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.

(Luke 16:16 KJV) The LAW AND THE PROPHETS [were] until John {The Baptist}: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

(Acts 13:15 KJV) And after the reading of THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, [Ye] men [and] brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

When Jesus said,

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy THE LAW, OR THE PROPHETS: I am not come to destroy, but TO FULFILL.

He is saying that He has come to fulfill the Old Testament. Jesus did this. Jesus told His disciples:

Luke 24:44 EVERYTHING MUST BE FULFILLED that is written about Me in THE LAW OF MOSES, THE PROPHETS AND THE PSALMS.

Jesus did fulfill everything that was written about Him in the Old Testament – down to the last little bit. Jesus continued:

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, ONE JOT {iōta} or ONE TITTLE {keraia} shall in no wise pass from THE LAW, till ALL BE FULFILLED.

Word Study: The “JOT”, Greekiōta or the Hebrew yod, is the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The “TITTLE”, Greek keraia, is a tiny stroke that differentiates one Hebrew letter from another. It looks like a tiny horn. Jesus was emphasizing that not the smallest part of the Old Testament – not the tiniest prophecy of the Coming Messiah – could be left unfulfilled. Jesus would fulfill every shadow, every sacrifice, every festival and feast, every ceremonial law that taught of the Coming Savior.

Some have suggested that – since Jesus fulfilled all the Law – that now what used to be considered sin is now acceptable. This is a lie from the mouth of the Serpent of Eden, Satan himself. This is an ancient lie called “Antinomianism”, meaning “against the Law”, and it seeks to justify sin.

Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall BREAK ONE OF THESE LEAST COMMANDMENTS, and shall teach men so, he SHALL BE CALLED THE LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus came to fulfill the Law, but not to erase it. He made it plain that to “BREAK ONE OF THESE LEAST COMMANDMENTS”, the commandments of God found in the Old Testament, is wrong and not justified in the eyes of God. Then Jesus says this:

Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, ye shall in NO CASE ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

The Pharisees and Scribes had a blended righteousness. They blended light and dark, salt and dirt, God’s Word and human tradition. And Jesus said that just WILL NOT DO. Those who are saved by faith in Christ are saved to be salt and light, ambassadors for Christ in this fallen world. We cannot compromise with the world and expect to be blessed of God.

I hope you understand that.